Highway from Hell
Chapter Five
Frank left the common room almost two hours later. He wanted to find Joe and tell him their dad had forbidden him to accept Ken's offer. He headed toward the rec room to look for Joe. Upon his arrival, he saw several kids with their eyes glued to the television and a couple more shooting pool. There were a few others around, but he didn't see Joe anywhere. He turned to leave and walked into Cory who was just coming in.
"Hey," Cory said with a smile. "I was looking for you."
"My dad dropped by," Frank told him.
"Bet he's happy," Cory said. "You are looking better."
"Yeah," Frank agreed. "You clean up okay too."
"Thanks man," Cory replied. "Let's get some fresh air," he suggested.
Doubting Joe would be outside, Frank declined the offer. "I just want to chill," he said, looking at the three guys who had just come in.
"You're not looking for that blond kid, are you?" Cory demanded angrily.
"Yeah," Frank replied honestly. "I think he needs a friend."
"He was a junkie!" Cory snapped. "The only thing he ever needed was a fix."
Frank looked at Cory suspiciously. A burning senstaion in the pit of his stomach. He forced his suddenly dry mouth to ask, "What do you mean was a junkie? You said he was still using."
"He was," Cory replied, his blue eyes sincere. "He OD'ed this morning. Mikey found him lying on the sofa."
Frank paled visibly and brushed past Cory, running as fast as he could toward the hospital wing. He never stopped until he reached the entrance where he paused to catch his breath. He entered the door and asked the first person he saw where Joe was.
"You can't be in here," the red-haired Nurse Reddy informed Frank, not answering him.
"I need to see Joe," Frank insisted, scared out of his wits.
"Why?" she inquired.
"He's my.. my friend," he said, almost giving away his cover.
Nurse Reddy took in Frank's terrified expression and her brown eyes softened a bit. "He can't have visitors," she told him. "He needs quiet. He will probably be back in the dormitory by tomorrow," she added.
"Was this a delayed withdrawal reaction?" he inquired.
Nurse Reddy shook her head, her red hair moving stiffly as if drenched in hair spray. "No," she stated firmly. "He managed to get some heroin and took too much." She took Frank's arm and led him back to the door. "I'm sorry, but you really can't be in here."
Frank left the area but came back a few minutes later. Nurse Reddy had gone but another nurse had taken her place. Frank ground his teeth in frustration and left. He didn't feel like being around anyone so he headed back to the dormitory, passing Ken's office on the way. He paused outside as he heard Ken talking to someone on the phone. His blood ran cold and his nails bit into his palms as Ken spoke.
"Joe Hardy died of an overdose," Ken was saying. "A tragedy," he added, smiling.
Ken obviously didn't hang around to make sure Joe had died, Frank thought, fuming as he moved away and entered the dormitory. He sank down on his bed and buried his head in his hands.
'Why was this happening?' he thought. 'Would this terrible nightmare never end?'
"This area is off limits during the day," Ken said from the doorway, interrupting Frank's troubled thoughts.
Frank looked up. It took every ounce of self-control he possesed not to run over and wrap his hands around Ken's neck. "I'm not feeling well," he said honestly.
"Then see a nurse," Ken ordered with no pity. "Out!"
Frank bit back the retort which sprang to his lips and stood up. He walked slowly to the door, staring Ken in the eyes. Frank's dilated eyes were filled with hatred and determination. He stared until Ken stepped aside. "Don't let me catch you back in here," Ken called out when Frank was several yards away.
Not daring to make a reply, Frank kept walking as if he hadn't heard. He met Cory outside on the swings.
"You don't look so good," Cory observed as Frank sat down and put on his sunglasses.
"I'm fine," Frank lied. "I just want out of this place," he added, pushing off.
Less than an hour later, Frank was still swinging high. He had been trying to get rid of his anger by keeping up the rhythm, but it was no good. Cory had gone inside over thirty minues ago and Frank had allowed himself the freedom to cry until his tears had dried up. He had to see Joe but still hadn't figured out a way to do it.
"Tony Davis!" a voice shouted, breaking through Frank's reverie. "Your dad's here!"
Frank slowed down and jumped off, leaving the swing to stop on it's own. He came inside and went to the common room. His dad was there, still wearing the disguise he had worn when he had visited earlier. "Joe..." Frank began but his dad grabbed him and pulled him into his arms and gave him a hard hug.
"I know," Fenton said in a soft raspy voice. He pulled back and looked at Frank, his eyes bloodshot from crying all the way to the foundation from the Hardy home. "Laura told me when I got home," he said. "Joe was murdered this morning."
"No," Frank replied, a confused look upon his face. "He went into a coma but he's not dead," he informed his father who looked torn between shock and joy. "Who said he was?"
"I don't know," Fenton replied. "Your mother answered the phone. I came to get you out of here as soon as she told me."
"I can't leave now," Frank told him. "If someone tried to kill Joe, then we have to find out who and why." He looked up at his father, a thoughful expression on his face. "It must have been Ken who called and said Joe was dead," he said. "After you left, I went to find Joe. After Nurse Reddy told me I couldn't see him, I went back to the dormitory and heard Ken telling someone Joe had died. I thought he was the one who had tried to kill him and hadn't found out he had failed. But..."
"But he was probably arranging for Joe to go live with his friend," Fenton finished for Frank.
"I wonder what he plans on doing when you and mom show up for his body," Frank commented.
"Let's find out, shall we?" Fenton asked. "Are you sure you will be okay in here?" he asked Frank.
"I'm sure," Frank said. "I can't leave Joe alone. Especially not now," he added.
Fenton left the foundation and returned home. He told Laura that Joe was still alive and then filled her in on what Frank and Joe had been doing. "And now we need to go and see what happens when we go for Joe's body," he added.
Laura had started upstairs to change when the phone rang. Fenton answered it after the second ring. His face clouded over as he listened. "I see," he said. "No, we did not want our son cremated," he responded to a question, then listened for a moment more before hanging up.
Laura looked down at Fenton from the third stair. "That takes care of that," he told her. "Ken claims the body has been cremated. We're to pick up his ashes at the Feldham Funeral Home." He thought for a moment, remembering the conversation he had with Frank. Frank had never actually gotten in to see Joe. What if the nurse had lied and Joe were really dead? There was only one way to be sure. "I'm going to the funeral home," he decided. "Then I'm going to take the ashes to Forensics at the police station," he informed Laura, turning from her and heading for the door.
"Wait!" Laura shouted at her troubled husband. He turned and looked expectanly at her. "You better get out of your disguise," she said, reminding him he was still dressed as Tony's dad.
"They are human ashes," Officer Perkins informed Fenton later that evening. Fenton turned a deathly shade of white, but his face quickly regained it's color when Officer Perkins continued. "But I can tell you that whoever these ashes belong to was cremated three days ago."
"Thank you," Fenton replied, his voice hoarse with relief and went upstairs to talk with Chief Collig.
At the foundation, Frank hardly touched his dinner and was immensely relieved when bedtime arrived. He crept out of the dormitory and down to the hospital wing. Just as he had hoped, security was more lax at night and he had little trouble sneaking in. Making sure no one was around, he checked the board for Joe's room. According to the board, Joe had been discharged into his parents care earlier. Frank quietly picked up the phone and called home. Fenton was at home and answered. He told Frank about the ashes and Frank told his dad about Joe's alleged dismissal. Hearing someone coming, Frank said bye and hung up. He hid beneath the desk as someone walked by then hurried back to the dormitory wondering who had tried to kill Joe. But the problem he was overwhelmed by was where was Joe? Would he ever see him again?
Chapter Five
Frank left the common room almost two hours later. He wanted to find Joe and tell him their dad had forbidden him to accept Ken's offer. He headed toward the rec room to look for Joe. Upon his arrival, he saw several kids with their eyes glued to the television and a couple more shooting pool. There were a few others around, but he didn't see Joe anywhere. He turned to leave and walked into Cory who was just coming in.
"Hey," Cory said with a smile. "I was looking for you."
"My dad dropped by," Frank told him.
"Bet he's happy," Cory said. "You are looking better."
"Yeah," Frank agreed. "You clean up okay too."
"Thanks man," Cory replied. "Let's get some fresh air," he suggested.
Doubting Joe would be outside, Frank declined the offer. "I just want to chill," he said, looking at the three guys who had just come in.
"You're not looking for that blond kid, are you?" Cory demanded angrily.
"Yeah," Frank replied honestly. "I think he needs a friend."
"He was a junkie!" Cory snapped. "The only thing he ever needed was a fix."
Frank looked at Cory suspiciously. A burning senstaion in the pit of his stomach. He forced his suddenly dry mouth to ask, "What do you mean was a junkie? You said he was still using."
"He was," Cory replied, his blue eyes sincere. "He OD'ed this morning. Mikey found him lying on the sofa."
Frank paled visibly and brushed past Cory, running as fast as he could toward the hospital wing. He never stopped until he reached the entrance where he paused to catch his breath. He entered the door and asked the first person he saw where Joe was.
"You can't be in here," the red-haired Nurse Reddy informed Frank, not answering him.
"I need to see Joe," Frank insisted, scared out of his wits.
"Why?" she inquired.
"He's my.. my friend," he said, almost giving away his cover.
Nurse Reddy took in Frank's terrified expression and her brown eyes softened a bit. "He can't have visitors," she told him. "He needs quiet. He will probably be back in the dormitory by tomorrow," she added.
"Was this a delayed withdrawal reaction?" he inquired.
Nurse Reddy shook her head, her red hair moving stiffly as if drenched in hair spray. "No," she stated firmly. "He managed to get some heroin and took too much." She took Frank's arm and led him back to the door. "I'm sorry, but you really can't be in here."
Frank left the area but came back a few minutes later. Nurse Reddy had gone but another nurse had taken her place. Frank ground his teeth in frustration and left. He didn't feel like being around anyone so he headed back to the dormitory, passing Ken's office on the way. He paused outside as he heard Ken talking to someone on the phone. His blood ran cold and his nails bit into his palms as Ken spoke.
"Joe Hardy died of an overdose," Ken was saying. "A tragedy," he added, smiling.
Ken obviously didn't hang around to make sure Joe had died, Frank thought, fuming as he moved away and entered the dormitory. He sank down on his bed and buried his head in his hands.
'Why was this happening?' he thought. 'Would this terrible nightmare never end?'
"This area is off limits during the day," Ken said from the doorway, interrupting Frank's troubled thoughts.
Frank looked up. It took every ounce of self-control he possesed not to run over and wrap his hands around Ken's neck. "I'm not feeling well," he said honestly.
"Then see a nurse," Ken ordered with no pity. "Out!"
Frank bit back the retort which sprang to his lips and stood up. He walked slowly to the door, staring Ken in the eyes. Frank's dilated eyes were filled with hatred and determination. He stared until Ken stepped aside. "Don't let me catch you back in here," Ken called out when Frank was several yards away.
Not daring to make a reply, Frank kept walking as if he hadn't heard. He met Cory outside on the swings.
"You don't look so good," Cory observed as Frank sat down and put on his sunglasses.
"I'm fine," Frank lied. "I just want out of this place," he added, pushing off.
Less than an hour later, Frank was still swinging high. He had been trying to get rid of his anger by keeping up the rhythm, but it was no good. Cory had gone inside over thirty minues ago and Frank had allowed himself the freedom to cry until his tears had dried up. He had to see Joe but still hadn't figured out a way to do it.
"Tony Davis!" a voice shouted, breaking through Frank's reverie. "Your dad's here!"
Frank slowed down and jumped off, leaving the swing to stop on it's own. He came inside and went to the common room. His dad was there, still wearing the disguise he had worn when he had visited earlier. "Joe..." Frank began but his dad grabbed him and pulled him into his arms and gave him a hard hug.
"I know," Fenton said in a soft raspy voice. He pulled back and looked at Frank, his eyes bloodshot from crying all the way to the foundation from the Hardy home. "Laura told me when I got home," he said. "Joe was murdered this morning."
"No," Frank replied, a confused look upon his face. "He went into a coma but he's not dead," he informed his father who looked torn between shock and joy. "Who said he was?"
"I don't know," Fenton replied. "Your mother answered the phone. I came to get you out of here as soon as she told me."
"I can't leave now," Frank told him. "If someone tried to kill Joe, then we have to find out who and why." He looked up at his father, a thoughful expression on his face. "It must have been Ken who called and said Joe was dead," he said. "After you left, I went to find Joe. After Nurse Reddy told me I couldn't see him, I went back to the dormitory and heard Ken telling someone Joe had died. I thought he was the one who had tried to kill him and hadn't found out he had failed. But..."
"But he was probably arranging for Joe to go live with his friend," Fenton finished for Frank.
"I wonder what he plans on doing when you and mom show up for his body," Frank commented.
"Let's find out, shall we?" Fenton asked. "Are you sure you will be okay in here?" he asked Frank.
"I'm sure," Frank said. "I can't leave Joe alone. Especially not now," he added.
Fenton left the foundation and returned home. He told Laura that Joe was still alive and then filled her in on what Frank and Joe had been doing. "And now we need to go and see what happens when we go for Joe's body," he added.
Laura had started upstairs to change when the phone rang. Fenton answered it after the second ring. His face clouded over as he listened. "I see," he said. "No, we did not want our son cremated," he responded to a question, then listened for a moment more before hanging up.
Laura looked down at Fenton from the third stair. "That takes care of that," he told her. "Ken claims the body has been cremated. We're to pick up his ashes at the Feldham Funeral Home." He thought for a moment, remembering the conversation he had with Frank. Frank had never actually gotten in to see Joe. What if the nurse had lied and Joe were really dead? There was only one way to be sure. "I'm going to the funeral home," he decided. "Then I'm going to take the ashes to Forensics at the police station," he informed Laura, turning from her and heading for the door.
"Wait!" Laura shouted at her troubled husband. He turned and looked expectanly at her. "You better get out of your disguise," she said, reminding him he was still dressed as Tony's dad.
"They are human ashes," Officer Perkins informed Fenton later that evening. Fenton turned a deathly shade of white, but his face quickly regained it's color when Officer Perkins continued. "But I can tell you that whoever these ashes belong to was cremated three days ago."
"Thank you," Fenton replied, his voice hoarse with relief and went upstairs to talk with Chief Collig.
At the foundation, Frank hardly touched his dinner and was immensely relieved when bedtime arrived. He crept out of the dormitory and down to the hospital wing. Just as he had hoped, security was more lax at night and he had little trouble sneaking in. Making sure no one was around, he checked the board for Joe's room. According to the board, Joe had been discharged into his parents care earlier. Frank quietly picked up the phone and called home. Fenton was at home and answered. He told Frank about the ashes and Frank told his dad about Joe's alleged dismissal. Hearing someone coming, Frank said bye and hung up. He hid beneath the desk as someone walked by then hurried back to the dormitory wondering who had tried to kill Joe. But the problem he was overwhelmed by was where was Joe? Would he ever see him again?